In all the celebration of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, The Guardian has published their choice of The World Cup's top 100 footballers of all time. An international panel of 40 experts compiled this list of World Cup history's best players to have ever competed in the global competition of football's finest.

But of all the players having ever competed in any of the 19 World Cup tournaments, not one of The Guardian's top 100 footballers of all time are from a country in Asia. Surprising? Or unsurprising?

Asia has the highest number of malnourished children for any region in the world. Poor nutrition from the start of life and an unhealthy lifestyle later in life are the reason why Asia’s children – future footballers – aren’t able to compete equally with their international counterparts on the field. For Asia’s children the dream of ever making a "football champions" list ends before it begins.

Will the next generation of Asia's footballers be just as unfortunate to not make a list like this?